Locomotive stoker



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Dec. 21, 1937.

NN QN Patented Dec. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES ATNT OFFICE 2,103,211 Y Y LoCoMo'rlvs s'roKEa- Charles J. Surdykowski, Tuckahoe, N.`Y., now by judicial change of name Charles J. Surdy, as-

signor to Standard Stoker Company, Inc.,

(1922), a corporation of Delaware Application May 25, 1932, serial No. .613,363

17 Claims.

My invention which relates to stokers for use in connection with locomotives is chiefly concerned with the provision of a Stoker for that class of locomotives termed deckless engines. Ihe deckless engines or locomotives are of unusual design in that there is an absence of an immovable deck in the cab, the cab deck being formed by a hinged plate, termed the apron, which is pivotally supported from the locomotive backhead and rests upon the floor of the tender.

When stokers of the type which feed fuel through the backhead are installed on such 1ocomotives, the fuel discharge conduit of the stoker must of necessity pass through the hinged cab deck or apron. It has heretofore been found necessary in such constructions to provide sufficient clearance between the dischargeconduit and the hinged cab deck or apron that when the locomotive and tender are passing over rail joints, Crossovers or turntables, thus raising the locomotive above the level oi the tender, the hinged deck will not be lifted by the fuel discharge conduit but will always rest on the tender floor, thereby minimizing possibility of injury t0 the locomotive crew by the movement of the hinged deck or apron.

However, when such clearance between the hinged deck and the discharge conduit isY provided, the space is often so great that members of the engine crew may receive personal injuries if care is not taken to avoid stepping in the opening between the discharge conduit and the hinged deck. It is therefore, the main object of this invention to provide a Stoker for deckless locomotives of such construction that relativernovement between the hinged deck or apron and the stoker discharge conduit for all practical purposes is eliminated, thereby affording the maximum protection to members of .the engine crew.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a stoker havingV a fuel conduit which feeds forwardly and upwardly to the firing opening of the locomotive, the fuel conduit extending upwardly through and being supported by a movable apron or bridging element between the locomotive and tender.

t is a more specific object of the invention to provide a stoker in which a fuel discharge conduit feeds fuel forwardly and upwardly to the firing opening of a locomotive, the fuel discharge conduit comprising a mouth member which is secured to the backwall and in communication with the ring opening, and a tubular portion which feeds fuel into the mouth member, the tu- (cl. 11o-'101) bular portion being Vflexibly related'with said mouth member and supported by a, movable apron of thelocomotive'. Y

It is also an object of this invention to" provide a locomotive stoker comprising a member `5- secured to the reboxbackwall and a tubular portion which at its forward end is flexibly re-V Y lated with said member and being flexibly supported from said deck at a point rearward of said member.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as therpreferred emibodiment thereof is described inthe :following specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which 15 Fig. 1- is a longitudinal vertical central section through a portion of a llocomotive and its tender with a stoker partly in similar section arid partly in side elevation applied thereto; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view` takenv on the line il 2 2 of Figure 1.

On the drawing, the locomotive, which is f the deckless type, is shown at A, Yits tender at Y B and a coupling member therebetween Vat C.

The locomotive includes a boiler firebox I0, hav'- 2'5 ing a backwall I I with a firing opening IZ'therthrough, and the tender B comprises the fuel bin I3 disposed above the oor I4 which is apertured as at I5 so that fuel may be' fed into an` open mouth trough I6 of the stoker S. Hinged to the backwall II is a plate or apron I1 which forms the deck or iioor of the locomotive A and`r also rests upon the floor I4 of the tender B, thereby constituting a bridging element between the locomotive and tender. Y

It will be understood that when the locomo' tive and tender are passing over rail joints, cross'- overs or turntables, the locomotive and tender will alternately raise and lower a distance which in some instances is as great as four inches. For 40 this reason, the apron I1 is hinged'as at 4I8 so. that it always'rests upon the tender floor I4, and will not form an obstruction over which workmen might stumble. Y y Y The Stoker S comprises a transfer conveyor I9, of which the trough I6 is a part, and a fuel discharge conduit 20 which receives fuel from the transfer conveyor and delivers it to the rebox through the ring opening in the backwall there.- y of. Comprising the fuel discharge conduit 20 is the mouth member 2| which is in communication with the rebox through the firing opening, and a tubular portion 22 extending downwardly andrearwardly from the mouth member 2l andy universally connected to the transfer conveyor as at 23. The tubular portion 22 passes through the hinged deck il and is pivotally supported therefrom by means of the pins 2K3, 25, freely received in the bearing members 25, 21 respectively, the bearing members 26 and 27 being secured to the underside of the deck or bridge I1. This construction flexibly supports the tubular portion 22 from the locomotive cab deck Il. At its upper end, the tubular portion 22 is provided with a slightly spherical portion 28 which is slidably received in the lower end 23 of the mouth member 2l. The mouth member 2l is rigidly secured to the backwall II through the flange 3f! and supports a fuel distributingsystem comprising the plate 3l and the pressure fluid head 32.

The transfer conveyor may be of any form, but is illustrated as being of the movable type which is supported by the rollers 33 on rails such as 34 to receive fuel from the fuel bin I 3. A screw conveyor 35 mounted in the transfer conveyor I9 urges the fuel forwardly to the fuel discharge conduit 20. A screw 36 in said discharge conduit is preferably connected to the screw 35 and receives fuel therefrom, elevating the same into the mouth member 2I. Fuel which is delivered in front of the pressure fluid head 32 by the screw 36 is projected to all parts of the flrebecl by jets of pressure fluid issuing from the head 32 over the plate 3|. A motor 3l supplies power for driving the conveyor screws 35 and 33, as by means of the shafting 38 and gearing (not shown) housed in the casing 39.

By attaching the tubular portion 22 of the discharge conduit 20 to the hinged deck I'I, there will be little, if any, relative movement above the deck between the discharge conduit and the hinged deck or apron I 1, thereby permitting freedom of movement in the cab by the engine crew Without danger of personal injury.

It is apparent from the foregoing that a novel stoker arrangement has been provided which is particularly useful in connection with deckless locomotives, the Stoker comprising but few parts and delivering the fuel into the flrebox through the firing opening in an efficient manner Without endangering members of the engine crew.

While this invention has been described in connection with a deckless locomotive, certain features of this invention are of equal advantageous use with conventional locomotives as contemplated by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a pair of intercoupled vehicles including a locomotive provided with a firebox having a firing opening in the backwall thereof, and a tender, a movable apron forming a movable floor portion for the locomotive, said apron bridging the space between said locomotive and tender and being hinged at one end to one of said vehicles, and having its opposite end supported by the other of said vehicles, a stoker comprising a fuel transfer conveyor section mounted on the tender, and a fuel discharge conduit section arranged to receive fuel from said transfer conveyor section and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom through said movable apron and communicating with the ring opening, said fuel discharge conduit section being attached to said apron and supported thereby.

2. In combination with a locomotive provided with a rebox having a firing opening in the backwall thereof, a tender having a floor, an apron at one end hinged to said locomotive and at the other end resting upon the floor of said tender,

said apron forming a movable bridging element between the locomotive and tender, a Stoker comprising a fuel transfer conveyor section mounted on the tender, and a fuel discharge conduit section arranged to receive fuel from said transfer conveyor section and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom through said hinged apron and communicating with the firing opening, said fuel delivery conduit section being attached to said hinged apron and supported thereby.

3. In combination with a pair of intercoupled vehicles including a locomotive having a firing opening in the backwall thereof, and a tender, a movable apron forming a movable floor portion for the locomotive, said apron bridging the space between said locomotive and tender and being hinged at one end to one of said vehicles, and having its opposite end supported by the other of said vehicles, a Stoker comprising a fuel transfer conveyor section mounted on the tender and a fuel discharge conduit section arranged to receive fuel from said transfer conveyor section and delivering the same toward said firing opening, said Afuel -delivery conduit section including a mouth member in communication with said firing opening and a tubular portion extending downwardly and rearwardly from said mouth portion through said movable apron to a point therebelow, said tubular portion being supported by said apron.

4. In combination with a pair of intercoupled vehicles including a locomotive having a firing opening in the backwall thereof, and a tender, a movable apron forming a movable floor portion for the locomotive, said apron bridging the space between said locomotive and tender and being hinged at one end to one of said vehicles, and having its opposite end supported by the other of said vehicles, a stoker comprising a fuel transfer conveyor section mounted on the tender and a fuel discharge conduit section arranged to receive fuel from said transfer conveyor section and delivering the same toward said firing opening, said fuel discharge conduit section including a mouth member secured to said backwall and in communication with said firing opening, and a tubular portion in exible relation with said mouth member, said tubular portion extending downwardly and rearwardly from said mouth portion and being supported by said movable apron.

5. In combination witha pair of intercoupled vehicles including a locomotive having a firing opening in the backwall thereof, and a tender, a movable apron forming a movable floor portion for the locomotive, said apron bridging the space between said locomotive and tender and being hinged at one end to one of said vehicles, and having its opposite end supported by the other of said vehicles, a stoker comprising a fuel transfer conveyor section mounted on the tender and a fuel discharge conduit section arranged to receive fuel from said transfer conveyor section and delivering the same toward said firing opening, said fuel discharge conduit section including a mouth member secured to said backwall and in communication with said ring opening, and a tubular portion in flexible relation with said mouth member, said tubular portion extending downwardly and rearwardly from said mouth member through said movable apron to a point therebelow, said tubular portion being supported by said apron.

6. In combination with a locomotive provided with a rebox having a firing opening in the "backwall thereof, a tender having a floor, an lapron at one end hinged to said locomotive and at the other end resting uponk the floor ofV said tender, said apron forming a movable bridging 'elemente between the locomotive and tender, a

--fuel conduit section arranged to deliver fuel to said'ring opening, said fuelconduit section 'comprising a mouth'member secured to said backwall and in communication with said firing opening, and a tubular portion in exible relation with said month member and delivering fuel thereto, said tubular portion being supported by said movable apron.

7. In combination with a locomotive provided -with a rebox having a Vfiring opening in the backwall thereof, a tender having a floor, an apron at oneAv end hinged to said locomotive and` at the other end resting upon the floor of said tender, said apron forming a movable bridging element between the locomotive and tender, a fuel conduit section arranged to deliver fuel to said firing opening, said fuel conduit section comprising a mouth member secured to said backwall and in communication with said firing opening, and a tubular portion in exible relation with said mouth member andV delivering fuel thereto, said tubular portion extending through and being supported by said movable apron and means for transferring fuel from said tender to the tubular portion of said fuel conduit section.

8. In combination with a locomotive provided with a rebox having a firing opening in the backwall thereof, a tender having a floor, an apron at `one end hinged to said locomotive and at the other end resting upon the floor of `said tender, said apronY forming a movable bridging element between thelocomotive and tender, a fuel conduit section arranged to deliver fuel to said firing opening, said fuel conduit section comprising a mouth member secured to said backwall and in communication with said ringopening, a fuel distributor at the forward end of said mouth member, a tubular portion in flexible relation with said mouth member and arranged to deliver fuel to said distributor, said tubular portion being supported by said movable apron.

9. In combination with a locomotive provided with a rebox having a ring opening in the backwall thereof, a tender having a oor, an apron at one end hinged to said locomotive and at the other end resting upon the tender floor, said apron forming a movable bridging element between the locomotive and tender, a stoker comprising a fuel transfer conveyor section mounted beneath said tender floor and receiving fuel through an opening therein, and a fuel discharge conduit section flexibly connected to said transfer conveyor section at a point below said apron, said fuel discharge conduit section including a mouth member secured to said backwall and communicating with said firing opening, and a tubular portion extending downwardly andV rear-- wardly from said mouth member and being flexibly connected therewith, said tubular portion extending through said hinged apron and supported thereby.

10. In combination with a locomotive provided with a rcbox having a ring opening in the baeliwall thereof, a tender having a floor, an apron at one end hinged to said locomotive and at the other end resting upon the tender door, said apron forming a movable bridging element between the locomotive and tender, a Stoker comprising a vfuel transfer conveyor section mounted beneath said tender floor and receiving fuel" through an opening therein, a fuel discharge conduit section exibly connected to said transfer conveyor section at a pointbelow said apron, said fuel discharge conduit section .including a mouthV member secured to said"backwall 'and communicating with said firing opening, and a tubular portion extending downwardly and rearwardly from said mouth `member and being iiexibly associated'therewith, said tubular portion extending through said hinged apron and supported thereby, a fuel distributor disposed at the forward end yof said mouth member, a screw conveyor in said transfer conveyor section and a screw conveyor in said discharge conduit section arranged to receive fuel from. said transfer conveyor for urging the fuel to'said distributor. n l f l1. In combination-with a pair'of intercoupled vehicles including a locomotive provided with a firebox having a firing opening in the backwall thereof, and a tender, a movable apron forming a movable oor portion for the locomotive, said apron bridging the space between said locomotive and tender and being hinged at one end to one of said vehicles, and having its opposite end supported by the other of said vehicles, and aVV stolzer fue] conduit section communicating with said firing opening and extending Vdownwardly and rearwardly, said stoker fuel conduit section being pivotally attached to said apron and supported thereby.

12. In combination with a pair of intercoupled vehicles including a locomotive provided with a rebox having a firing opening in the backwall thereof, and a tender, a movable apron forming a movable floor portion for the locomotive, said apron bridging the space between said locomotive and tender and being hinged at one end to one of said vehicles, and having its opposite end supported by the other of said vehicles, an opening in said apron, and a Stoker fuel conduit-section extending upwardly and forwardly through said opening and communicating with the firing opening, said conduit section being pivotally attached to said apron and supported thereby.

13. In combination with a locomotive provided with a rebox having a ring opening in the backwall thereof, a tender, a movable apron at one end hinged to said locomotive and at the other end resting upon the fioor of said tender,

said apron forming a movable bridging element between the locomotive and tender, an opening in said apron, and a stoker fuel conduit section extending upwardly and forwardlythrough said opening and communicating with the` ring opening, said conduit section being pivotally supported by said apron.

14. In combination with a locomotiverhaving a firing opening in the backwall thereof, a tender for said locomotive, a bridging element extending between the locomotive and tender and for said locomotive, a bridging element extending between the locomotive and tender and supported by them at its ends, said bridging element at one of said ends being hingedly supported, a

fuel conduit section including a mouth member secured to said backwall and in communication with said firing opening and a tubular portion extending downwardly and rearwardly from said mouth portion, said tubular portion extending through said bridging element and being supported thereby.

16. In combination with an articulated locomotive and tender, the former having a iring opening in the backwall thereof and the latter being provided with a deck, a bridging element between the articulated locomotive and tender, said bridging element at its one end being hinged to the locomotive and at the opposite end thereof resting upon the deck of said tender, and a Stoker fuel conduit section extending upwardly through said bridging element from a point therebelow, said conduit section communicating with said firing opening and being supported by said bridging element.

17. In a locomotive having a boiler rebox provided with a backhead having a firing opening therein, a cab deck for said locomotive extending rearwardly from said backhead, and a. tender for said locomotive, a. stoker for transferring fuel from said tender to the ring opening of said boiler rebox comprising a conduit member secured to said backhead and communieating with said ring opening, a tubular portion delivering into said conduit member, the forward end of said tubular portion and the rearward end of said conduit member being flexibly engaged with each other, and, means rearward of said conduit member exibly supporting said tubular portion from said locomotive cab deck.

CHARLES J. SURDYKOWSKI. 

